Teaching Grammar in Context

This wiki page serves to support our exploration of teaching grammar in the context of the writing process. In addition to our work with Sentence Composing, Image Grammar, and Reading Like A Writer in class, please add any other resources you feel might be helpful to our class below.

Sentence Composing

Sentence Composing is one of the most effective ways to enhance students' writing in terms of syntactic complexity.

Sentence Composing is comprised of 4 strategies:

• Sentence Unscrambling
• Sentence Imitating (provides the most impact)
• Sentence Combining (the most popular)
• Sentence Expanding

Here is an example of implementing the Sentence Combining strategy using technology via Troy Hicks:

Image Grammar: Teaching Grammar as Part of the Writing Process

• The Writer As Artist: Painting with 5 Basic Brushstrokes
• The Artist's/Writer's Eye: Seeing/Composing with Specific Details

Reading Like A Writer

• A more complex approach to sentence composing, specifically sentence imitation, that includes noticing structural devices and stylistic choices ("ways with words") that published authors employ.

Other Resources

• Lesson Example Explained: Using Technology to Teach Sentence Combining
• From Sentence Combining to Revision Decisions
• Plural Forms of English Nouns: The Lighter Side
• Gram-O-Rama Website - grammar as creative writing and performance! There's a textbook, it's awesome.
• Webcomic about Alots
• Conjunction Junction - song about conjunctions!

"Multiple exclamation marks," he went on, shaking his head, "are a sure sign of a diseased mind." - (Terry Pratchett, Eric, Discworld #9)